City must protect green space

Re: Permanent stage in Okanagan Lake Park?

When, oh when, oh when will our elected representatives recognize the value that the citizens of Penticton put on our green space?

No sooner has one hugely-used park finally been saved from an unwelcome and ugly piece of permanent construction (after massive public protest that spelled the end of the tenure of our previous mayor) than it seems our new mayor is proposing that an enormous, ugly, permanent structure be built on another treasured piece of our city’s constantly threatened green space.

In 2002, after city-wide protest, followed by a public referendum — the unique area that is now Okanagan Lake Park was saved from being the site of an hotel. And (it should be noted), the battle that preceded that referendum spelled doom to the tenure of yet a different previous mayor.

In an interview with the in 2016, our current mayor (then out of office) said (regarding the then ongoing issue of a water slide on Skaha Lake Park): “Taking all that park space, nobody in their right mind would do that. If you’re elected to city council, you should know and understand what the culture is in Penticton and with public space….”

We took you at your word then, John Vassilaki. And those who recently voted you in as mayor recall the similar vows you made, in many pre-election conversations.

Festivals are great additions to the city in their season. But, the beauty and open space of Okanagan Lake Park is an enormous public boon in every season, and something to be closely guarded.

Besides, surely a newly-minted council does not want to inflame yet another parkrelated uproar like the recent waterslide debacle. Write:

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